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, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEG RUDOLPH VVURLITZER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

DRUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part-of Letters Patent No. 373,873, datedNovembefirZQ, 1887.

Application filed April 7, 1884. Serial No. 126,884.

to a novel k nee-rest adapted to be folded down upon the periphery ofsaid drum; and it consists in combining with a tighteningrod a claw orclaw-s rigidly affixed to one end thereof to take over one of the hoopsand incidentally hold the'rod against axial rotation, a squared orpolygonal coupling-sleeve threaded over-the free end of the rod, andanother claw or claws swiveled to the outer end of this coupling to takeover the second hoop in a knee-rest composed of two carrying-framespivoted to fold to ward and open away from each other in a planeparallel, or nearly so, with the drum-heads, a flexible strap or bandconnecting the free ends of said frame, and detents or locking devicesto hold them in their open position, and in the various othercombinations and details of construction hereinafter described and,

claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of a drum-head showing theknee-rest attached and open. Fig. 2 is a front view with the kneerestfolded. Fig. 3 is a detail showing kneerest and tighteners, and Fig? atis a sectional view of a tightener.

A represents a tighteningrod of suitable metal and provided at one endwith hooks or claws a, one or more, preferably at least two, to takeover the drum-hoop at said end, while the other end, which lies alongthe body of the drum, is screw-threailed. In order to hold the rodagainst axial rotation, which the ensuing description will show to beundesirable in this element of the tightening device, the claws arerigidly pinned or secured thereto. Thus when they have been caught overthe drum-hoop they will resist any such tendency, however imparted. Thethreaded end of the tightening-rod enters a long threaded socket in aeoupling-sleeve,- B, the exterior of which sleeve presents a square orpolygonal surface, to which a wrench or key may be applied and therebytake in or let out the rod. The solid (No model.)

head of this coupler has a neclgb, turned upon it, whereby means isafforded for a swiveljoint between said coupler and the hook or clawa,whieh takes over the hoop at that end of the drum. It will besufficient for the main features of this part of myinvention if theconnection is merely swiveling,to permit the coup ler to be turnedfreely when the drum is to be strained or tightened; but in order toenable the claws at each end ofthe tightener to beproperly fitted totheir respective hoops at the very outset, before even the coupling isturned to take up the tightener, the neck upon said coupler iselongated, as shown, to permit the swivel-claw to slide sufficiently toreach its seat.

The knee-rest, referred to above as constituting a second feature of myinvention, may be attached to the drum independently of the tighteners;but, for the reason already suggested--to wit, capacity of bodilyremovaland also a saving in the number of parts, I prefer that it shallbe supported upon two'adjacent tighteners, and will herein describe itunder such conditions,premising that the other mode of applying itwillbe readily apparent from this description. Near the lower ends of twoadjacent tightening-rods, and most conveniently formed upon the hub orshank of the respective claws, which asa rule are of cast metal,areshoulders 0, set out from the periphery of the rod and beveled orinclined on their contiguous faces,but cut away abruptlyon the otherside to afford a catch or stop. A skeleton-support,O, composed of astrong wire bent into substantially the form shownthatis, U- shaped, andadvisably curved as a whole to conform to the curve of the drum-shell.when folded down upon the latter-is pivotally secured to each of thetightener-rods by coiling the ends of its arms once around the latterand at some distance apart, the lower coil, 0, resting normally againstthe hub of the claw at that point and in a recess between the justinentioned stop or shoulder and the rod. Springs D are coiled aroundthe rods between the arms of the U-frames, one end of each spring beingsecured to a lug, d, from the hub of the claw and behind the beveledshoulder and the other end fastened to the upper arm of said frames. Thesprings are thus made to serveatwofold purpose. They exert a constanttendency to shut the frames in toward each other and down against theside of the drum, and they hold them down against the hub elastically.The frames are connected together by a flexible strap or band,E whichforms the part actually in contact with the knee, and which, if desired,may be made adjustable in length. Now, supposing the knee-rest to befolded down upon the drum-body, the flexible portion will lie beneaththe U-frames and be safely confined by them; but if it is desired toarrange the rest for use the frames will be opened against the stress oftheir respective springs, and as they are swung back the lower arm ofeach will ride up the inclined face of the shoulderfrom the claw-hub,yield i n g elastically for the purpose, and then will snap down and belocked behind the abrupt face or stop portion of the shoulder. WVitheach frame thus opened and fastened the rest is ready for use. To

close it again,the lower arms are simply sprung out from behind thestops, when the coiled springs urgethem at once down upon the drum.

The arms of the U -frames may be rigid; but in practice I prefer to givethem enough elasticity to enable the lower arm to be sprung toward theother and relieve the coiled spring to consisting of the U-framespivoted to fold toward each other, springs by which they are urgedtoward a folded position, the stops to hold them open, and the flexiblestrap which connects them and forms the actual rest.

3. The combination, in a drum, with the hoops and tighteners, of theknee-rest, frames pivoted upon such tighteners, the beveled shoulders,the coiled spring, and the flexible strap, substantially as described.

RUDOLPH WURLITZER.

\Vitnesses:

FRANK W. BURNIIAM, GEORGE E. PARKINSON.

